Conservatives Hold Awareness Month

The Harvard Republican Club (HRC) declared October Conservative Awareness Month in the club’s bulletin released to its members on Monday.

A speech from controversial radio personality Laura Schlessinger and a dinner with Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield ’53 are just two of many events scheduled throughout October.

“We want this month to be a focused period of time to bring out the conservative energy and views,” said HRC President Rob Porter ’00-’02. “Conservatives are a fringe minority on campus, and we are trying to raise awareness of the ‘other side’ in political debate.”

Porter and other officers of the HRC set the plans for Conservative Awareness Month into motion early during the summer. Out of about 50 invitations sent to various professors, personalities and conservative thinkers, more than half a dozen speakers confirmed their invites and are scheduled to attend, including Mansfield, Baker Professor of Economics Martin S. Feldstein ’61 and George Uribe from Fox News.

Jason P. Brinton ’00-’02, a former president of the HRC, was optimistic about the success of Conservative Awareness Month.

“Hopefully, this month will bring many high-caliber speakers who spark open discussions among strudents,” Brinton said.

In particular, Major General Pat Brady and Schlessinger are expected to bring a lot of attention to the HRC, Porter said.

Brady, chair of the Citizens Flag Alliance, along with HLS Professor Richard D. Parker is scheduled to discuss the need for a constitutional amendment banning desecration of the American flag.

The ever-controversial Schlessinger, known in part for her comments labeling homosexuals “biological errors,” is expected to share her political and moral views Oct. 11.

“Although many people, even conservatives, disagree with [Schlessinger’s] views, it will draw attention and get people to think differently,” said HRC member Ashley E. Isaacson ’04.

Marcie B. Bianco ’02, the president of Harvard College Democrats, questioned the effectiveness of having a set month to champion conservative issues, however.

“We are constantly active,” Bianco said. “It is not in our interest to be active only for a month.”

But Isaacson said a Conservative Awareness Month is necessary on a campus as famously liberal as Harvard’s.

“There is a outspoken liberal population that dominates political discussion,” she said. “This marks as an opportunity for us to show that there is also a large conservative population.”